Hand-grenade and other explosive shell.



H. E. ASBURY.

HAND GRENADE AND OTHER EXPLOSIVE SHELL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18 I916 Patented July 31, 1917' 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Harry 265mg 9 wh l ll lII/llll/ll/l! UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I HAND-GRENADE AND OTHER EXPLOSIVE SH ELL.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 31, 1917.

Application filed February 18, 1916. Serial No. 79,139.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY E. AsBnRY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Hand-Grenades and other Explosive Shells, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mumtions of war and more particularly to explosive devices of the self-contained type. It consists of certain improvements in the mechanism for controlling the firing pin or bolt, or a member performing the same function particularly applicable for use with that form of explosive device known as a hand grenade; the same comprising a hollow metal shell suitably formed and which may contain some form of highexplosive material, such explosive material being set off by detonating means normally held out of action when the structure is not in use, but automatically brought into action by the release of means retaining a firing pin or bolt, which release is effected just prior to the hurling by hand or other projection of the structure. lVhile particularlyapplicable to structures of the hand grenade type, the mechanism constituting my invention, or simple modifications of the same within the scope of my invention, may be applied to other forms of explosive missiles; shrapnel and the like.

My invention relates more particularly to the means for holding the actuating mechanism in a quiescent state, or out of action prior to the projection of the structure; such means including an externally operable button or trigger which is retracted to release the retaining means and permit the desired action of the firing pin or bolt, or a member performing the same function. This release takes place after the grenade, shell, or .other explosive structure has left the hand or other hurling member.

A further feature of my invention is to provide a hand grenade that is somewhat heavier at the striking point than at its opposite point; in other words, a structure that is overbalanced to an extent sufficient to cause it to fall in one position whereby its striking bolt releasing means may be actuated upon impact in order that explosion may occur at once.

A further feature of my invention is to support the striking bolt releasing means in the pro ected active position by means of a relatlvely light spring which will be compressed upon impact.

A further feature of my invention is to provide a hollow striking bolt or pin adapted to receive the detonator, and the prlmlng cap for igniting the same; no intervenlng fuse belng employed, and to provide a firing pin for such cap in one wall of the hand grenade; the firing pin or striking bolt bemg susceptible of movement relatively to each other. i

A further feature of my invention is to provide such form of hand grenade with an enlarged head or cap carried by the impact end of the same so that sufficient surface to effect release of the parts will be present should the grenade strike in water.

A further feature of my invention consists 1n applymg certain of the details of con struction to shrapnel or other explosive shells of a similar character.

In the preferred construction, the renade 1s des gned to be hurled by the use 0 a stick which may be secured to the end of the same, or it may be arranged to be shot from a gun. It will be understood, further, that 1t may be thrown by hand without the use of the throwing stick.

These and other features of my invention are more fully described hereinafter, reference belng had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is a vertical section of my im- 1 proved hand grenade, showing the releasing mechanism for supporting the striking member in the set and inactive position;

Fig. 2, is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the releasing mechanism displaced and the striking member with its primary cap in contact with the firing pin;

Fig. 3, is a sectional view of the end of the grenade structure showing a modifica tion within the scope of the invention;

Fig. 4:, is a sectional view showing the application of the striking member releasing means to shells of the shrapnel type;

' Fig. 5, is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 4, and

Figs. 6 and 7 are views illustrating further modified arrangements of the striking memberholding means as applied to shrapnel shells.

' the spring 12.

and it will be understood that the shell will be provided with other scores or grooves substantially at right angles to the scores or grooves 2. 4 The shell is preferably rovided with a loading opening 4, normal y closed by a screw lug 5.

Within t e shell a casing 6 is mounted.

having a chamber 7 for the reception of a movable striking member 8, which may be hollow and provide a chamber 9 for the reception of a detonating cap 10 and a primary cap 11; the end of said member 8 constituting an anvil for said primary cap whereby the latter may be exploded upon engagement with a firing pin. Motion is transmitted to the member 8 by a coiled spring 12 when said member is released; suchspring being normally compressed and held by means hereinafter described.

The rear end of the grenade is closed by a wall 15, preferably made of sheet metal and having an open center, with a sleeve 16 for the reception of a throwing stick 17, while interposed between a shoulder 18 of said rear wall and the casing 6, I provide a pressed metal cup member 19, the center of which is preferably struck up to provide a firing pin 20, for engagement with the primary cap carried by the movable member 8, when the latter is released and projected by At the opposite end of the shell of the grenade a shoulder 21 is provided, and seated on this shoulder is a cupped member 22 having a short nange 23 fitting within the upper end of the casing 6, and between which'and a shoulder 24 on the member 8 the coiled spring 12 is confined. By preference the flange of the cup member is slightly grooved, and the end of the casing 6 ,niay be spun into engagement therewith. Mounted on top of the cupped member 22 is adisk or plate 25, which is held in position and confined in place by a screw cap or plug 26 substantially closing the end of the grenade shell.

The upper end of the member 8 is provided with a shouldered head 27 and, as indicated in Fig. 1, this head is engaged by supporting members or latches 28 of a peculiar shape, which are disposed in slots 29 formed in the plate 25; each of said latches having a foot 30 adapted to underlie and engage the head of the member 8, and a shoulder 31 which rests upon said disk or plate 25. The

latches 28 are spread apart and held in the operative position to support the member 8 by means hereinafter described.

Centrally disposed with respect to the screw plug 26 is an externally operable releasing member or button 35, which is supported in the outwardly projected position by a relatively light spring 36, and which may be held locked in such position prior to the time of use by means of a cotter pin or similar safety key 37; such member or button 35 having a flange 38 engaging a seat 39 in the screw plug 26, and having a projection 40, whereby the spring may be maintained in proper central position; the plate 25 also having a central projection 41 for said spring. The member 35 carries an inwardly projecting stem 42 with an annular portion 43, which, in the normal or inactive position, lies between the latches 28 in order that their lower ends may be held under the upper flanged end 27 ofthe member 8 and maintain the latter in the inactive position. I

When it is desired to use the grenade,,the locking or retaining pin 37 is removed from the member 35; thereby rendering the latter free for retraction upon impact. The grenade is then ,hurled either by hand, or by the aid of the throwing stick 17, or shot from a gun of suitable type.

The overweighting of the grenade shell as before described causes the end carrying the member 35 to strike first. Such impact fnoves it rearwardly against the tension of the spring 36; displacing its portion 43 from engagement with the latches, and the, latter are released, as illustrated in Fig. 2, from their engagement with the member 8, whereupon the spring 12 forcibly moves said mem her 8 through the shell,-6, bringing the primary cap into engagement with the central firing pin 20 at the base of said shell. The explosion of the primary cap is communicated directly to the detonating cap 10 within the chamber 9 of the member 8, with the consequent rupture of the entire structure under the influence of the high explosive contained within the hollow space of the grenade shell. To prevent displacement of the detonating cap 10 with respect to the primary firing cap 11, I may fill any space left in the chamber 9 of the member 8 by a packing of cotton or similar material, indicated at 44.

If desired to protect the firing mechanism from gases, fumes or other deteriorating influence emanating from the charge of ;ex plosive, which is preferably disposed within the hollow space of the grenade shell and surrounding the casing 6, a washer 45 of suitable material, may be interposed between the end of the casing 6 and its seat onthe member 19; another indicated at 46 between a portion of the rear wall 15 of the casing and said member 19, and another indicated shoulder or flange 21 of the shell.

In cases where water is encountered and there is danger of the grenade landing in water instead of striking solid resistance, it may be desirable to provide the member 35 with an enlarged striking face, and for such purpose I may provide a cap 50 as illus-- tenance of the member-35 and its cap 50 in 3 trated in Fig. 3. Thiscap may have a centrally threaded stem 51 adapted to a threaded socket 52 in the. end of the member 35, and this member, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be socketed for this purpose. In order that the member 35 carrying this enlarged surface cap 50 may be held against accidental displacement, I preferably provide the cap with suitable .protective means, which may be in the form of a split cotter pin 53' with its legs slightly bent to insure mainthe normal outward position, but not preventing its removal at the desired time, which removal maybe assisted by the emv ployment of a ring 54. j The holding and releasing mechanism for the member 8 described with reference to use in a hand grenade, may, with certain relatively unimportant modifications, be applied to the ends. of explosive shells of a wide variety designed to explode upon impact. In such instance, in view of the fact that the shell will have left the gun or other projecting implement and its case prior to explosion and will in fact depend upon impact to effect explosion, it will be unnecessary to include a fuse; the primary cap and detonating cap being disposed in line with the striking pin or operating member 8 and engaged directly by the latter upon impact of the shell.

In the use of the retaining and releasing means for the striking member 8, it will probably be unnecessary to remove the locking pin' 37 for the movable-member 35? before discharging the shell since the force of impact will be quite sufiicient to shear such locking pin when said movable member 35 is moved. inward upon impact. In such case, the movable member 35 may be slotted or notched in line with the latches28 so that the latter may be released, permitting movement of the striking pin 8* under influence of the traction spring 12 simultaneously with the displacement of a separating member for said latches.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, the latches 28 are spread apart and held in the operative position by an interposed member at the upper ends of the same which may be in the form of a ring washer 56, slotted at 57 so that the engaging ends of the latches may be definitely posltioned with respect thereto. The movable member 35 is held in the outer position by means of a spring 36, and is provided with a displacing proj ection 58 for engagement with the said ring washer 56 upon the shell striking; such impact immediately releasing the latches 28 from engagement with the striking member 8 which is forced under the action of the spring 12 into engagement with a primary cap 11 mounted in a tubular stem 59 forming an anvil and centrally disposed with respect to the shell; a detonating cap 10 being arranged directly below said primary cap.

In order that the latches may be free to swing inwardly and release the striking pin 8*, the internal projection 58 of the member 35 is preferably slotted in line with said latches, as indicated at 60; hence it will make no diflerence whether the said member 35 is held in or forced outwardly by the spring 36 after impact or not.j .In structures of this type, it will probably be desirable to give the member 35 a cross section other than circular in order that it may be definitely guided for proper coaction of the latches with the slotted or apertured portion 'of such movable member.

The construction and arrangement of the several parts at the impact end of the shrapnel shell-illustrated in Fig. 4, are, in other respects, substantially the same .as those illustrated in Fig. 1.

In 6, I have shown another form of releasing means for the latches as applied to shrapnel, in which the internal projections of the member 35", indicated at 58*, is

. carried in to an extent sufficient to provide a portion 61 to separate said latches; such member being held in the outward position by a spring 36*. This member may hBNO an enlarged. cap or head such as illustrated in Fig. 3, as employed with a hand grenade, and a split cotter pin may be used to hold such member in the safety position. The projection 58 is apertured at 62 so that when the latches are released by displace ment of the portion 61 of said movable member 35, the ends of said latches will be free to enter said apertures when the striking pin 8 moves them out of the way upon release thereby.

In Fig. 7, an arrangement substantially like that illustrated in Fig. 6 is provided, except that the movable member 35 is provided additionally with a central stem or projection 63 designed to assist in displacing the striking pin as the latter is released from the latches; said pin 63 being moved into contact therewith upon impact.

In the structures shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, the members 35*, 35 and 35, may be hexagonal, square, or of other polygonal shape so as to be properly positioned and maintain their position with respect to the latches in order that the latter may be released immediately upon said members being driven into the shell on impact. The screw plugs 26 employed with the various structures, whether of the hand grenade type or otherwise, are preferably provided with hexagonal heads whereby they may be turned into position by the use of a wrench.

The internal shell 6 and various other parts of the internal mechanism may be made of aluminum, and preferably are made of such material, although the use of such material is not essential to the operation of the structure.

In some instances it may be. unnecessary to fill the explosive shell with any explosive material, high explosive or not, since I have found in practice that it is possible to shatter the shell with the use of detonating caps of a high explosive character.

In the shrapnel, the usual explosive material, shot and the like will be included; the same as well as the construction of such shrapnel forming no part of my invention.

While I have shown and described-certain elements of my improved structure with more or less particularity, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction or arrangements illustrated, and the claims are designed to cover the constructions shown as well as all mechanical equivalents of the same.

I claim:

1. The combination with an explosive member and a detonating cap mounted therein, of a carrier for said cap, a striking pin for engagement with said cap, sa1d cap and pin being mounted in movable relatlon with respect to each other, a sprlng for effecting such movement of the movable part, latches for retaining the movable member in the inactive positlon, a slotted plate carried by the explosive member in which said latches are mounted, means for holding the latches in their active position, and a plug member at the end of the shell having an outwardly projecting operative portion; said plug member being movable inwardly to displace the latch retaining means and release the member supported thereby.

2. The combination with an explosive member and a detonating cap mounted therein, of a plunger carrying said cap, a relatively fixed striking pin for engagement with said cap, a spring for effecting such movement, latches for retaining the plunger in the inactive position, a slotted plate carried by the explosive member in which said latches are loosely mounted, means for holding the latches in their active position, and a plug member mounted at the end of the shell beyond the slotted plate and having an outwardly projecting operative portion; said plug member being movable inwardly to displace the latch retaining means whereby the plunger supported by said latches may be released.

'3. The combination with an explosive in plunger-retaining position, and a member disposed in the screw plug at the end of the shell and having an outwardly projecting portion; said member being movable inwardly to displace the latch retaining means whereby the movable plunger may be released to effect explosion of the detonating p' e.

4:. The combination with an explosive member having a detonating cap, of a plunger carrying said cap, a striking in for engagement with said cap, a spring or imparting movement to said plunger to explode said cap against said striking pin latches for retaining said plunger in the in active position, a disk carried at the end of the explosive member, said disk having alined slots radially disposed in which said latches are loosely mounted, means for holding said latches in the plunger-supporting position comprising a member movable at the end of the shell and having an outwardly projecting portion and an inwardly projectmg portion in engagement with said latches; inward movement of said member displacing the latches and releasing said plunger to effect explosion of the detonating cap.

5. The combination, in a hand grenade, of a shell, an axially disposed tube extending longitudinally thereof, a plunger disposed in said tube, a detonating cap carried by said plunger, a striking pin against which said cap is carried by the plunger to efiect explosion thereof, a spring for imparting movement to said plunger, a cupped member to position said tube, a slotted disk overlying said cupped member, means for securing said disk to the grenade, latches loosely mounted in said disk for retaining said plunger in the inactive position, means for holding said latches to retain the plunger comprising a member movable at the end of the shell, said member having an outwardly projecting {portion for impact 6. The combination, in a hand grenade,- of a cast metal shell having an explosive cap within the same, a movable plunger for carrying said cap, a tubular member in 120 and an inwardly pro ecting portion in env which said plunger is movable, latches for supporting said carrier, a slotted disk confined in one end of the grenade in which said latches are loosely mounted, a spreader for said latches, an impact member projecting from the end of the grenade and carrying such spreader, a spring for moving the plunger in its tubular member when released, a sheet metal wall closing the opposite end of the grenade, and a firing pin carried by said wall within the tubular member and in line with the cap-carrying plunger.

7. The combination, in a hand grenade, of a screw-plug closing one end of the same, a disk, a cup member, said disk and cup member being interposed between a shoulder on the shell ofthe grenade and said screw plug, a movable striking member within the grenade, latches movably mounted in said disk for supporting said striking member,

and a spreader for said latches.

8. The combination with an explosive shell, of an explosive cap, a carrier for the same, a striking pin for said cap, one of said members being movable with respect to the other,latches supporting the movable member, a screw plug closing the impact end of said explosive shell, a'disk, a cup member, said disk and cup member being interposed between a shoulder on the shell of the ex plosive member and said screw plug, said disk being slotted and the latches being loosely mounted in said slots, a spreader r1ng for holding said latches in the active position, a movable member mounted in said screw plug for displacing said ring to release the latches, and guiding means for said movable displacing device;

9. The combination with an explosive shell, of a fixed firing pin, a movable plunger in axial alinement with said firing pin,

a tubular casing in which said plunger is mounted, primary and detonating caps carried by said plunger, a disk fixed in the end of the shell, means loosely mounted in said disk for holding the plunger inactive, a sprlng for moving the plunger within the tubular casing when released, a releasing member having a portion projecting from the end of the shell for impact and a portion projecting inwardly for maintaining said movable member inactive; inward movement of sa1d releasing member permitting the plunger to carry the explosive cap into contact with the fixed firing pin under the influence of the spring, and means for holding said releasing member inactive.

10. The combination, in an explosive shell, of a hollow body, closures for the ends of the same, a cupped member and a plate held in position by one of said closures, a movable plunger within the shell, latches movably mounted in said plate for supporting said plunger; the latter being arranged to move through the cupped member, an outwardly projecting impact member carried by one of the end closures of the shell, a spring for holding said imp-act member in the projected position, a spreader for the latches carried by said impact member, a detonating cap and a primary cap carried by said plunger, a firing pin carried by one of the end closures, and a spring for driving said plunger to move the primary cap into engagement with the firing pin when the latches are released by inward movement of the impact member.

11. The combination, in an explosive shell, of a hollow body, detachable closures for the ends of the same, a partition d1sposed at one end of said hollow body and held in position by one of said closures, a firing pin carried at the opposite end of sa1d body, a tubular member confined between said partition and the closure at the opposite end of the shell and incloslng sa1d firing pin, a movable plunger within sa1d tubular member, aspring for impelling the same, latches movably mounted in said plate for supporting said plunger, a spreader for maintaining said latches 1n the actlve pos1- tion, externally operable means tor displacing said spreader to release sa1d movable plunger, and a detonating cap and a primary cap carried by sa1d plunger; the latter being movable into engagement wlth the firing pm when the plunger is impelled by its spring.

12. In a hand grenade, the comblnatlon with a shell having a detonatlng cap, a firing pin and means for actuating sa1d firing pin, of a slotted plate confined to said shell, means for support ng sa1d firlng pm against the operation of 1ts actuatlng means including a plurality of latches loosely mounted in the slots of said plate, displaceable means for maintaining said latches 1n supporting position, and an externally operable member for actuating said displaceable 110 means.

HARRY E. ASBURY. 

